The Undergroud Railroad

So, I am paying an average $500 a month on my debts, which is almost 60% of my average monthly income. My rent and utilities are about 40% of my monthly income. So Dave Ramsey's advice of getting $1000 saved up really quickly for emergencies is unrealistic for me, at least until March, when my smallest credit card bill will be paid off. For now, I am barely keeping my nostrils above water as I negotiate with the terrorists (debt collectors). Unfortunately for them, I am bound and determined to no longer be a slave to them financially. Because they are literally my masters, and until I get these shackles loosened, they have me captive.



My mother suggested going to a consumer credit counsellor and getting them to manage my debts. I talked to one of these people and almost signed on with them because my monthly payments would be cut in half, but I would be paying more money over a longer period of time in the long run, thus negating my current goal of getting out of debt as quickly as possible. It would also trash my credit score, not that I really care about my credit score. I don't ever want to use credit again, and I don't plan on buying a house in the next seven years or so. My ultimate goal is to buy a house with cash, and I'm determined that I can pull it off.



Also, another of my creeds is to never take out student loans again. If I didn't have my student loans, I would be out of debt in one year instead of two. And I can only get out of debt in two years if I strictly follow Marvin J. Ashton's advice to apply the funds I was using for paid debts to the next debt. When I do return to school, it will be out of my own pocket, with cash. None of this "I will take care of it when (and if) I graduate" nonsense. If I am paying cash for it, I definitely won't want to screw around instead of getting all A's. My original plan for this semester was to take some choir and voice lessons, just to get my foot in the door at the community college. But since I am desperately trying to get out of debt and have absolutely no funds for pleasure spending, this won't be an option. I will just stick with the crappy community choir and try to be content. If I start working at Cargill this summer, my dreams may come true sooner than I had hoped.